The team from CSAIL Director Daniela Rus’ Distributed Robotics Lab earned first place in the categories of hardware and curriculum for a printable, origami-inspired Segway robot, called SEG, at the “Ultra-Affordable Robot” competition sponsored by the African Robotics Network (AFRON) and the IEEE Robotics and Automaton Society.

The design by Rus, Ankur Mehta, Joseph DelPreto, Benjamin Shaya, and Lindsay Sanneman allows someone to build a printable robot for as little as $20, by hand, in just five steps that involve simple folding and assembly. The small robot is made of polyester and moves around on two large wheels can avoid obstacles thanks to a robust but inexpensive onboard sensing and navigation system.